If you are one of Australia's nearest neighbouring countries, you are expected to wait for 21 to 34 business days (4-7 weeks).

This is simply an admission of failure on behalf of Australian immigration. There is no justifiable reason for a tourist visa to take so long.

This is what the Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea states on its website:

"It is easier and quicker than ever before for PNG citizens to apply for a visa to travel to Australia.... Processing times for complete applications lodged on-line average 7 days or less, facilitating ease of movement for all visitors including tourists and business people."

I wonder if this is actually the case?

The PNG online visa application link advertised on that fact sheet is broken, and has been for some time, so I doubt this claim.

The link simply states that "www.immi.gov.au is currently unable to handle this request".

Considering PNG is able to manage a free tourist visa on arrival service for Australian citizens, I wonder how hard it would be for the Australian government to simply open up the $20 sub-class 601 or free sub-class 651 visas to PNG citizens.

This would allow Papua New Guineans to join the other 30 plus countries currently enjoying the fast turnaround service, instead of demanding a $145 fee for each Papua New Guinean in the sub-class 600 visa.

Similarly, I wonder how hard it would be for a prime minister to actually make "step up" a step up, rather than another embarrassing display of hollow rhetoric.